Floating battery.



W. CHMIELARSKI.

FLOATING BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. l5. 1917.

Patented Mar. 19,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR W. CHMELARSKI. FLOAHNG BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I5. 1917.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AToRNEY w. CHMIELARSKI.

FLOATING BATTERY. APPLICATION FILED ocT. |5.1911.

Patented Mar. 19,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. CHNIIELARSKI.

FLOATING BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED 0012.15 i917.

1,259,601. Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER CHMIELARSKI, OF GARY, INDIANA.

FLOATING- BATTERY.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented B131. 19, 1918.

Application iea cictoberis, 191?. serial No. 196,655.

a ioating battery of large dimensions adapted to carry heavy caliber cannon, riiies, torpedo tubes, anti-air craft giins, etc., for the purpose of warfare and one of the objects of my invention is to provide a structure of the type stated which will sit relatively low in the water and may be painted to correspond with the water coloring and thus rendered largely invisible to approaching vessels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure in which the buoyant body is or' flat formation so as to present but little edge area to a submarine or to a torpedo. y j

Again, the invention has JIgor its object to provide a structure of the character stated in which provision is made to render the super-structure bomb-proof. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide the structure with stationary iXedly sighted cannon, rifles, or carbines, the miizzles of which are flush with the outer surfaces of the super-structure so as to leave no projections that may be shot away to the damage of the instruments themselves. The invention also makes provision for the loc'a` tion of spy glasses at suitable intervals adjacent to the cannon and rifles sothat observers inay effectively determine which of the cannon shall be fired in order to hit a determined object. j j j My invention still further has for its object to provide a oating structure which' can be provided with the iisiial. machinery for propulsion and steering so that it may be conveyed from place to place under its own power, although I make no claim, per se, to any particular structure of power plant, propelling mechanism or steering mechanism, as such may be of any particular type now well-known in the art.

The invention .further has for its object `the provision of `a large platfprm spaceyon the floating structure to which captured' aeroplanes may be chained or otherwise fastened.

With other objects in view, the invention also includes those novel details of construe,-

tion, combination and arrangement of parts,

all of which will vbe iirst fully described, then be speciiically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had te they accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure lis a perspective view illustrating the invention in use. Y

Fig. -2 is a top plan view of the invention. Fig.- 3 is a transverse section of the same,

parts being removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section showing the location of the torpedo tubes and the manner of anchoring the superstructure to the base.

Fig. 5 is a detail View of one of the doorways.

Fig. 6 is a detail section showing the inanner of tying the walls of the super-structure together. Y

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the manner of securing the corner braces.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section showing the manner of tying the platform timbers togethenh Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing the relative positions of the cannon, the riies or carbines and the spy glasses for observation.

In the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the igures, 1 represents the platform and 2 the super structure. In the prei'erred construction of my invention, the platform 1 is composed of several layers of timber indicated by 3 and 4L in the drawings, the timber layers extending one layer in one direction and the other layer in the opposite direction so tliat'they may beV over-lapped and they are tied together by a series of tie bolts 5, at suitable intervals, the bolts 5 being countersunk in the timber and the countersunk bolt holes plugged as at 6, to prevent access of water.

In practice, the platform is also edgefaced with steel as at 7, (see Fig. 2) and it is also provided with rings 8 on the top and bottom which are bolted together by a series of bolts 9 and serve to aid in preventingV warping of the baseand also to aid holding the Vbase laminae securely 'together Vto mainconvenience in transportation tl rough the water.

In practice, the base 1 is designed to be about a quarter of a mile square, while the super-structure Q will be approximately 200 feet wide by 300 feet lonO.

The super-structure 2 is built up of an inner shell 11 of steel formed in any suitable way, the corners being secured together, as at 17, (see Fig. 7), it being understood that the shell 11 is built up of steel plates in the usual manner of constructing walls or shells of large dimensions. Surrounding the shell 11 is a wooden wall composed of hard wood layers 12 lap-jointed and crossjointed to afford the greatest rigidity and strength and around the wall 12 is another steel wall 13 and that wall is surrounded by another wall composed of an inner layer 14 of fireproof paper or pulp, an inter mediate layer 15 of brick and an outer layer 14 of fire-proof paper or pulp and around the latter is the outer steel wall 16. The t iickness of the various walls may be of any amount desired, although in practice I prefer to make the inner steel shell about five inches thick, the outer steel wall about six inches thick and the intermediate steel shell about three inches thick, the wooden wall 12 about thirty inches thick and the brick and paper wall about eighty-nine inches thick although, as before stated, the thickness of the walls may be of any amount found most practical and desirable.

The edges of the steel walls are securely braced by the angle irons 17 and are bolted together as at 18-18 to give a rigid connection.

Suitable doors 19 are provided for entrance into the superstructure from the platform and these doors are also built to conform to the wall structure and are of the safe-door type.

The super-structure is also provided with flooring 20-20 to divide the same into a plurality of levels, each level being provided with cannon 2,1 of long range and high power, the muzzles of which are iiush with the outer wall surface of the superstructure. The cannon 21 are arranged in horizontal alincment entirely around the super-structure at intervals, as indicated in Figs. 1 and S of the drawings. Above the cannon 21 in horizontal alinement and at corresponding intervals are observation or spy glasses Q2, through which the officers in charge may observe the surface of the ocean to determine the approach of a hostile vessel and thus direct the operators of the cannon in firing the same.

Arranged in a horizontal row at frequent intervals above the plane of the spy glasses 22 are powerful rifles, carbines or small light rapid fire guns 23 which may be used in repelling boarding attacks, in the event that, by any chance, a vessel succeeds in ap- Inoaching` close enough to the structure.

Through the upper wall a pluralitv of anti-air craft guns 24 are arranged at suitable angles and spy glasses 25 are provided to aid in sighting the anti-air craft guns 24-24.

30 designates torpedo tubes for use in repelling submarine attacks and bv making the platform quite shallow, but little opportunity is given for the impact of a torpedo against the same.

Suitable stair-ways 29 are provided for access to the various ioors and it is my intention that there be provided hospital wards, sleeping accommodations and all the usual living and hospital facilities of war vessels on the structure but as the same constitute no part of the present invention and may be of the conventional types, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the same and furthermore when the battery is to be one that is capable of propelling itself from place to place the usual machinery for propulsion and steering purposes may be located within the super-structure at any convenient place, and as such machinery may be of the usual and conventional type, and, per se, is not a part of this invention, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the same or describe it.

In order that the super-structure may be securely anchored to the base 1, the superstructure is bolted down by a suitable number of bolts or tie rods 26 and diagonal tie rods or guys 27, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it being under-stood that a sufficient number of tie bolts and guys are employed to firmly anchor the superstructure to the base 1 so that it may withstand the shocks of shells and the cannonading of approaching war ships.

ln the use of my inventiom a number of the structures are to be launched and cruise slowly around the oceans and attack hostile fleets wherever found. The employment of a large number of high range cannon and arranging them in a series enables attacks from all sides to be made or repelled, it being understood that the cannon of the different fioor levels of the super-structure are mounted for fixed elevations and ranges and are of such number as to provide foi` effective zone firing.

Suitable anchoring cleats or hooks 28 are secured in the base 1 to which captive boats or vessels may be secured and the platform 1 is of sufficiently large area to enable captive air ships to be secured down to the platform and thus conveyed to suitable base from which the battery came.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and. advantages of my invention will vbe readilyl "understood lthose skilled in the art f Y' 1' What Iv claim isz' i Y v V-1. A floating battery con'iprisinga floating base structurel of nrelatively .shallow depth and large surface area, a' bomb-.proof super-structure mounted 'wholly on f top of the base, the super-structure being relatively ofl small area to 'the base, said: `superstructure inclosing a-plurality of-floor-levels, anda series ofi cannon-mounted on each Hoor level with their muzzles projecting through the walls ofthe super-structure.and terminatingfflush withV the exterior ffacefof the super-structure, l.and spy-'glasses builtin' the walls of the super-structure'for sighting the cannon.

2; A' fiorella'g battery comprisg--' a" 'figatof the super-structure, said cannon being arranged in a horizontal plane in a series at relatively close intervals7 and spy glasses built in the walls of the super-structure for sighting the cannon.

3. A lioating battery comprising afloating base structure of relatively shallow depth and large surface area, a bomb-proof super-structure mounted wholly on top of the base, the super-structure being relatively of small area with relation to the base, said super-structure inclosing a plurality of floor levels, a series of cannon mounted on each floor level with their muzzles projecting through the walls of the super-structure and terminating flush with the exterior faces of the super-structure, spy glasses built in the walls of the super-structure for sighting the cannon, a series of rapid fire guns also projecting through the walls of the super-structure with their muzzles flush with the outer surface of the same and arranged in a different horizontal plane from that of the cannon and at frequent inter-V vals in series.

4. A floating battery comprising a ioating base structure of relatively shallow depth and large surface area, a bomb-proof super-structure mounted on top Vof the base, the super-structure being relatively of small area with relation to the base, said superstructure inclosing a plurality of floor levels, a series of cannon mounted on each floor level with their muzzles projecting through the walls of the super-structure and termisuper-structure, said cannon being arranged in'a horizontal-plane in aseriesl at' relatively close intervals, 'spy' glasses builtzinto Vthe wall-s ofi-the super-structure for, sighting the cannon," a series of rapid 4fire gunsfprojecting .through the wallsrof the super-structure With. their muzzles flush with lthe fouten sur'- faces of the same and arranged in a .different horizontal plane from that of '.the cannon and 'at 'frequent intervals inseries. .":a i V5. A floating battery comprisinga buoyant flat shallow draft `base" structure consisting of alternate layers of wood, one layer-being cross-lapped with 'relation to the` other, vmetallic rings boltedto sai'df base on :the surfacesi of' the "Sameand a `bomb-proof superstructure firmly secured-to: the base by hidden tie bolts passing through the super-struc- `ture andthe base and by diagonal' brace rods connecting the sides of the super-structure with the base and provided with tensioning means, one of said metallic rings surrounding the bomb-proof structure so that said structure is located within the space bounded by the ring.

6. A floating battery comprising a buoyant fiat shallow draft base structure consistino' of alternate layers of wood, one layer being cross-lapped with relation to the other, Ametallic rings bolted to said base on the surfaces of the same, a bomb-proof super-structure firmly secured to the base within the confines of the inner ring by hidden tiebolts passing through the super-structure and the base and by diagonal brace rods connecting the sides of the super-structure with the base and provided with tensioning means, and it) metal facing strip around the edge of the ase.

7. In a floating battery, a buoyant base composed ofv alternate crossed layers of wood, the bottom and top surfaces of said base being parallel and fiat, tie bolts passing through the layers of the base, brace rings on the Surfaces of the. base, tie bolts passing through the rings and, base, metallic edge facing strips around the base, a bomb-proof battery structure mounted on the base, said bomb-proof structure comprising a housing formed of an inner steel shell, an intermediate steel shell, an outer steel shell, a wooden wall between the inner and intermediate steel shells and a wall between the intermediate and outer steel shells which is composed of fire-proof material and firing batteries located within the superstructure with their muzzles flush with the outer surfaces ofthe super-structure, and means for securely anchoring the super-structure to the base.

8. In a floating battery, a buoyant baseV composed of alternate crossed layers of wood, the bottom and top surfaces of said base being parallel and flat, tie bolts passing through the layers of the base, brace rings on the surfaces of the base, tie bolts passing through the rings and base, metallic edge strips around the base, a bomb-proof structure mounted on the base within the connes of the inner rings, said bomb-proof structure comprising a housing formed on an inner steel shell, an intermediate steel shell, an outer steel shell, a wooden wall between the inner and intermediate steel shells, and a wall between the intermediate and outer steel shells which is composed of reproof material, and tiring batteries located within the super-structure with their muzzles Hush with the outer surfaces of the super-structure, and means for securely anchoring the super-structure to the base.

9. In a oating battery, a fiat buoyant base of relatively shallow depth and large area,

a bomb-proof super-structure mounted on top of the base, means for securely tying said super-structure to the base, torpedo tubes projecting downwardly through the sides of said super-structure and through said base with their outlet ends flush with the under surfaces of the base, and a plurality of sets of cannon and rifles mounted in the super-structure with their muzzles flush with the outer side and end walls of the super-structure and anti-air craft guns mounted in the top of the super-structure with their muzzles Hush with the top wall of the Same and means by which the aforesaid ordnance may be sighted.

VALTER CHMIELARSKI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

